It's official. Netball has become too physical, to the point where coaches are criticising the way the game is being played.
Following the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic's 50-42 ANZ Championship minor semi-final victory over the Southern Steel on Monday, 12-year coaching veteran Robyn Broughton and Magic coach Noeline Taurua opened up about their fears for netball.
Their comments are from the same song sheet as those from Silver Ferns goal shoot Irene van Dyk who told Sportal she believed the 'biff' in netball was nullifying skill.
Broughton said players would have to adopt a totally different approach if the style continued.
"All teams have got more physical as the season went on," the Steel coach said.
"You have to be able to throw the ball under physical pressure, and throw it accurately. If that's the way the game's going to go then your whole training needs to start differently and things need to change because it's a lot more confrontational. You saw it yesterday [Sunday] with the Swifts and Thunderbirds."
When asked has it gone too far? Broughton replied: "I think so because you lose some of the skill. Instead of being able to get rid of it all the time, the game is stopped. There's no running, jumping and releasing in the air."
Her views were taken even further from the victorious coach, who said her side had entered its two previous playoff campaigns soft, but it had learnt from its mistakes and would adopt a far more ruthless approach against the Sydney Swifts in the preliminary final in Newcastle on Sunday.
To prepared for that match, the No.1 New Zealand side would use hit shield and have bags shoved in their faces at training to harden up, Taurua said.
"The game's definitely changing a huge amount. It's very competitive. We've spoken to the umpires about what's competing on the ball - and what's just downright dirty," she said.
"What's netball about? In Australia, it's dog eat dog. It's a totally different look. When New Zealand teams go over there we suffer because we play a different game."
In 60 minutes at Vector Arena, the Magic were hit with 58 contacts and the Steel 45 (103 total) - almost two per-minute.
Visiting captain and goal attack Megan Dehn, who was outstanding with 24/25 shooting attempts, highlighted what was disappearing from the game.
"You play to what the umpires let you get away with. It's definitely very physical. It makes the game very stop start and you don't get too many nice passages of play," she said.
Their views are clear - something has to change, or get used to physical confrontation in netball.